In a canoe race, a team paddles downstream 480 meters in 60 seconds. The same team makes the return trip upstream in 80 seconds. Find the teams rate in still water and the rate of the current?
2007-04-03 14:48:36 · 1 answers · asked by Lizzie 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
Assuming the current stays constant
they travel 960m in 140 sec up and back
(or 480 m in 70 sec)
which would be the rates in still water
(ie 480/70 meters per second)
The current takes about 10 sec off their time one way, and adds 10 sec to their time the other way.
current flows at rate c meters per sec
team rows at 480/70 mps
s = d/t
(480/70 + c) = 480/60
c = 480/70 - 480 / 60
480/70 - c = 480/80
c = 480/70 - 480/80
Odd ... different rates for upstream and downstream current flow
2007-04-03 14:52:08 · answer #1 · answered by Orinoco 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋